Chapter twenty-one: The Walk

My house was a good fifteen minute ride from school so it took me about thirty minutes to make the walk. On my way I had plenty of time to meditate on why I was so upset about Gregory and Mrs. Phillips. Gregory I knew I could handle—but Mrs. Phillips was another matter. I'd be okay if all the students turned against me (with the exception of Raven and Alyce of course) but I didn't know about the teachers. If the teachers suddenly hated me then I'd be in big trouble. I played the scenario in my mind; Act one- dirty looks. Act two- bad grades. Act three- parental involvement.

I stopped at act three.

Then I wondered at my skipping school. I'd never done that before. In fact, I'd always been a kind-of voice of sanity to my friends and made damn sure they weren't throwing away their future. But here I was, walking along under the cover of the clouds with a talking cat by my side, and skipping school. I was so capitally screwed when the school called my parents…

And Damir- the newly found love of my life- was talking to me inside my head. I was willing to try to believe the vampire part (I'd always wanted a vampire love) but voices in my head freaked me out. It wasn't normal or right or, or, or…. I rubbed my head wearily.

"Nothing makes sense anymore…"

"Damn straight!"

I jumped three inches off the ground, whipping my head to my right side.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" I half-shrieked, seeing Jake by my side. "I thought you were taking care of Gregory and Mrs. Phillips!"

Jake chuckled, scuffing his over-sized combat boots on the cement side-walk as he began moving again. "Been there, done that Princess." He said, gazing with his green eyes into the cloudy skies. Suddenly I realized he was handsome. Very handsome, in fact. Pointed shocks of blonde hair fell over his face, tips of ebony black blending with his eyeliner. An angular nose pointed softly to the horizon. Gently he drew in his lip ring and toyed with it, running his tongue over the cool metal.

I looked away, cursing under my breath.

"Don't call me princess." I murmured, not wanting to act like a stupid fan girl. I loved Damir- even just this short amount of time with him taught me that- but Jake was a dangerous being, one that held mystery and passion—a hard thing for a girl to resist.

"Alright then. I'll just think of some other nick name for you then, eh?" He lightly bumped my shoulder and laughed. I sulked in silence, still too run down by Mrs. Phillips' assumption to say anything more.

"So, where're we going?" he asked idly a few moments later.

I sighed and irritably answered, "I'm going to my house."

Jake simply said, mockingly, "To be with your nice new boyfriend."

My spine bristled at his tone. "Yes. My handsome, charming, sweet boyfriend that cares about me."

Jake stopped and stared, trapping me in his eyes. A wistful look passed into face, as he tenderly whispered, "I care about you too, Annabel. And I would never let you go to school alone to face them. I would never leave your side. Not for the world…" My head spun with his breath and his sudden openness. A part of me cried out in resentment, but that part was silenced by the pleasant mist sweeping through my brain.

He took a step closer, bending down to breath into my neck, inhaling my fragrance and exhaling his own. My legs were screaming at me to run, to get away to someplace safe in Damir's arms but they could only tremble in place. "I wouldn't have to leave you alone and helpless while the sun broke upon your skin," he whispered seductively into my ear, his breath dancing across my skin like smoke tendrils. A place inside of me knew this was vampire magic but I didn't care right then. Right then all I wanted was to pull Jake to me and dig my face into his well-worn leather jacket.

Then Jake stepped away, grinning mockingly. I was dizzy and confused. Passion heated my skin and the smoky-tendrils of his breath traced my neck and shoulders. "Ask Damir about sunlight. It's an interesting thing," He shined his fangs at me and disappeared into a darkened street. The punk vampire's ardent whispers tangled in my hair, dipping and sighing like pining lovers.

Dazedly I looked around, realizing we had walked home without me realizing it. I shook my head vigorously and stepped inside my front door trying to forget everything but Damir.